Caring for our fingernails and toenails is often an afterthought, says professional nail technician Titilayo Bankole. Many of us don't think of maintaining our nails the way we do our teeth and hair.

Your cuticle is a layer of clear skin. It’s located on the bottom of your finger or toenails, along the nail bed. It protects your nails by acting as a barrier for bacteria. The cuticle area is ...

"Healthy nails should be firm. They should not be soft. They should be shiny. They can have some lines in them, but they should generally be very smooth," says dermatologist Dr. Shari Lipner.